Press Release – NZEI
Thousands of primary teachers are to begin two weeks of meetings to discuss the Government’s education agenda. As well as meetings throughout the country, there will be larger gatherings in the main centres. In Wellington this event will be on 20 November.

NZEI Te Riu Roa National President Ian Leckie says there is very real concern that the Government’s policies will damage our quality public education system.

He says these issues are being raised by teachers as part of their current collective agreement talks with the Ministry of Education.

“The Ministry has made an offer which we believe is linked to a business model of education driven by cost-cutting and competition.

“What’s at stake here is our world–renowned public education system based on equity and providing good education for all children.”

He says the Government’s policies are based on an agenda known as the Global Education Reform Movement (GERM) which has already failed to improve students’ learning in other countries. The ideologically-driven policies are based around competition, data-based accountability, standardization and supposed choice.

“We’re seeing GERM creeping into our education system here through National Standards, league tables and charter schools and proposals of performance pay for teachers.

“These offers are not just an attack on teachers but the whole of our education system as we know it. “